Method of night aerial advertising



Dec. 20, 192 7.

L. AZARRAGA' METHOD OF NIGHT A ERIAL ADVERTISING Filed D60. 21. 1926 FIG.1.

INVENTOR LU l6 AZA R RAGA.

Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

LUIS AzAaRAsA, or nnrrrsrmn, new YORK.

METHOD or NIGHT AERIAL ADVERTISING.

Application filed December 21, 1926. Serial No. 156,117.

My invention relates to advertising devices of the character described in application Serial Number 156,118 filed concurrent- 1y herewith'and is more particularly con} 5 cerned with a means and-method of aerialadvertising at night.

An object of the invention is to provide a sign or the like which is adapted to be supportedaloft by means of a captive hal- Icon or other lighter-than-air-craft andwhich, regardless of the movement of the balloon thru space, is continuously illuminated by means of a projected light.

A further object of the invention ,is to mount the light projecting apparatus as to admit of its free swinging movement in any direction, and to couple therewith the balloon or other lighter-than-air-craft in a manner such that the'movement of the balloon, and hence the sign. is properly coordinated with the swinging movement of said apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a night aerial advertising device which is economical in operation, which is more or less startling in its appeal, and i which, if displayed aloft over thickly populatedcenters, will be visible to and readable by a maximum number of observers. Other objects and advantages of. the in- 1 vention will be hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like or corresponding p i Fig. 1 is aside elevation of the device, the dotted linesindicating the manner in which the light rays automatically follow v the sign,

' Fi 2 is a detail view of the mounting .40- for t e light projecting apparatus, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the sign receiving'surfa'ce.

In the embodiment of the invention selected, for illustration, a more or less con- \ventional form of non-rigid captive balloon 10 is shown as a means for raising and holding the sign aloft. From said balloon 10 a plurality of converging lines 10 are hung.

These lines 10 are preferably fastened to a ring 10 to which-is attached the outer or upper end of the tether line 11. The tether line, .at or near its point of attachment to the balloon ring 10 is divided to receive between the separate line portions a substantially ball shaped member 11'. Said ball "member 11, for the convenient attachment of said lineportions, has formed thereon, at

diametrically opposite points, two eye-extensions 11 and 11 the former extending in an upward. direction and the latter 'ex- 61 tend-ing oppositely.

In Fig. 3, wherein is illustrated the simplest form of my invention, the ball member 7 11', except forthe eye-extensions 11 and 11 is substantially.spherical, altho it; may, 6: if desired, be out-of-round on its undersurface. The-function of said ball member is that of a ball shaped support for the sign 1 structure designated in its entirety as 12., Said sign structure is preferably of light 7( construction, circular, and substantially horizontally flat. It comprises, as herein illustrated, a marginal frame piece 12 of bamboo or other light strong material, a center frame piece 12 'of aluminunn. ran 7 aluminum alloy, and a netting or silkenweb, 12 which may or may not be reinforced. V

The center frame piece 12 unlike the marginal frame piece -is substantially socket shaped. At its exact center it has formed therein an opening 12* thruwhich the tether line -11 extends. The inner socket wall ofsaid frame piece 12 is preferably substan: tially complemental to the top rounded outer surface of the ball 11' which is adapted to 35 loosely engage therewith. Such engagement provides, in eflect, a ball and socket joint between .the tether line llandthe sign. Thus supported, the sign is free to either rotate or tilt laterally in the wind.

The means employed .for tilting or rotating the sign structure 12 relatively to the tether line 11, comprises avertioal fin surface 13 and a horizontal fin surface 13. Said fin surfaces are both carried by the en framing 12 at one side of its point of support adjacent to the margin of the sign. Both surfaces function as stabilizing surfaces which tend to hold the sign at all times substantially horizontal and parallel 10 to the earths surface regardless of the changing angular position of the tether line The vertical fin surface 13 is preferably mounted onthe top side, of the sign receiv: ing surfaceso as to be hidden thereby when 10 viewed from beneath, whereas the horizontaL fin surface 13' is fpreferably formed by closing a portion 0 the web 12 Iagainst the passage. of air therethru. To counter-balance the weight of said fin surfaces, the op- 11 hand, the sign receiving surface is a sheet surface having permanentl .delineated thereon the advertising inte ligence,

The tether line 11, instea'd' o'f being fastened atits inner endtoa Windlass or the like, is firmly fastened asat 14 to a light projecting apparatus designated in its entirety as 15." This light projecting apparatus 15 is so mounted on or within a suit-7 able stand or base 16 as to admit of its free swinging movement in any direct-ion. The

character of light projecting apparatus employed, however, isimmaterial; If the si receiving surface 1-2 is. constructed in t 6 form of a picture screen, a' picture projecting apparatus can be used to project thereon either a picture, letters, figures, or other advertising intelligence. If, onthe other then, if desired, the light projecting apparatus can partake of the form of a high powered or concentrated spot light. In any event, it is necessary that -the projected light bedirected onto the sign receiving surface, and that said sign receiving surface shall have depicted thereon the advertising intelligence intended for display. a A41 advertising device of the character mentioned is-especiallydesirable in 'viewof its strong aesthetic appeal. Not "only is the beam or shaftof light attractivejand conspicuous, but the unobstructed movement ofthe sign thru space, due to the free floatimportance,

inventions I I method and means employed, the sign, when merely ,be continuously directed, and means once in operation, and the 'light' rays'prop erl focused, requires" no further attention, eit er manual'or otherwise, for anindefinite display. 1

What is claimed therefore is:

In a-nigli't aerial advertising sign or the like,'the combination, of an apparatus for pro ecting light, a standupon which saidv apparatus 'ismounted for freeswin in movement in. any dire ction,-'a captive a-j loon', a tether line for said balloon fastened at one end to said apparatus,"a relatively flat structure affording a,v sign receiving surface suspended from said tether line'jand onto which-the projected light is adapted to holding said structure in a. substantially horizontally flatposition regardless of theangularity of said tether line.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature;

for v 

